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Two headed to court in Tamaqua drug death

Two of three people accused to providing a narcotic to a Tamaqua woman who died of an overdose waived their rights to preliminary hearings Wednesday.

Jonathan J. Seekins, 33, of Coaldale, and Melanie L. Kropp, 24, of Mahanoy City, face charges in the April 2 death of Alexandria Sienkiewicz, 23.She died of acute fentanyl toxicity, according to Schuylkill County coroner David Moylan.A third person, whom police say sold the drug to Seekins, is Kyle J. Merenda, 22, of Barnesville.All three are out on bail.Seekins is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, criminal solicitation - delivery of controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. His bail is $25,000 straight cash.Kropp is charged with criminal solicitation - delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance. She was released on $5,000 unsecured bail.Merenda is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, delivery of a controlled substance, dealing in unlawful activity, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance. He was released on $20,000 bail.Merenda faces a preliminary hearing, also before District Judge Christina E. Hale of Frackville, at 9:50 a.m. April 12.According to court documents filed by state trooper Joseph W. Hall of the Frackville barracks, Kropp drove them to Merenda's house, where Seekins gave Merenda the $120 in exchange for what the three thought was heroin. They went back to Seekins' house, where Seekins gave Kropp 10 bags of the drug for driving, and gave five bags to Sienkiewicz.Kropp and Sienkiewicz drove back to Tamaqua, where sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sienkiewicz's mother found her in bed, unresponsive, a needle in her arm.